NRL Stars prepared to spoil party

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They have been compared to the Washington Generals, the bumbling foils to basketball's Harlem Globetrotters but there is one major different between them and the NRL All Stars: These guys win just as many games as they lose.

When the Indigenous All Stars and NRL All Stars meet at Cbus Super Stadium on Friday night they will do so with the ledger locked at two wins apiece and despite much of the focus this week being on the Indigenous team, NRL All Stars five-eighth Kieran Foran says once the whistle blows they won't be content to play second fiddle.

The two teams along with players from the Women's All Stars and Indigenous All Stars teams spread throughout south-east Queensland on Tuesday to spread the NRL's healthy living message, leaving lasting memories for hundreds of kids who sat in awe of their presence.

Foran and Indigenous All Stars opposite Ben Barba sat side-by-side at St Joseph's Tobruk Memorial School in Beenleigh discussing the Eat Well, Play Well, Stay Well message but will put that good spirit to the side for 80 minutes on Friday.

"We treat the week really seriously, we treat it with respect and we definitely go out there to win," Foran said.

"We'll be doing everything we can to get the win on Friday night but we'll be coming up against a very spirited and quality Indigenous team.

"We're wary of their threats around the park and we'll do our best to control them."

With plenty of tickets still available for the game both Foran and Barba spoke in favour of the All Stars concept retaining it's position in the pre-season schedule but Barba seemed genuinely excited at the prospect of the game being played in North Queensland next year.

"All [the NRL] has to do is talk to us to find out what this game means to us," Barba said.

"I'm hoping it never gets taken away because it's special for us and we enjoy this week.

"I read something in the paper today about trying to move it to Townsville and being a proud North Queenslander I know the people up there would really love it and get behind it and travel left, right and centre to be there.

"That's probably the best thing about this thing, there are so many different ways you can go about it. As long as there's an Indigenous All Stars team and I'm part of it then I'm happy."

As fathers of young children, both Barba and Foran saw plenty of their own children in the young faces absorbing their presence on Tuesday and admitted that as their careers have progressed they have become more acutely aware of the influence they can have on the younger generation.

"In your early days as a footballer you probably don't think about it as much," Foran said of his position as a role model.

"You're just trying to find your feet as a first grade player and establish yourself in the team and then once you find your feet amongst the team you start to think about it and realise just how much impact you have on the community and you have on young kids growing up.

"It's something I never take for granted and something that I really try to give time back to the fans."

Added Barba: "I think the first person to visit my school in Mackay was Julian O'Neill when he was at the Cowboys, that was my first interaction with an NRL player.

"Back then it meant something to me because footy has always been a big thing for me so I'm hoping I left a mark here today.

"You can see that most schools in New South Wales and Queensland are really pushing the message already but I guess them hearing us say it is probably going to push it a little bit more.